Vietnámi Gulyás — Restaurant in Budapest

Been coming here for years now, and it's impressive how consistent the essence of the experience is. The menu changes, sure. One gets the feeling that the chef just likes experimenting with new kitchen toys and finds excuses to half-integrate the outcomes into the menu, but the udon noodle soups remain at the core. It's true fusion in the sense that it's nothing like what you'd expect to find in Vietnam or Japan or Hungary, but rather an entirely new genre that has emerged naturally from those influences. The result is a bold and fresh suite of flavours that don't really have a parallel anywhere, and make eating here a worthwhile experience. You also have to admire the attitude towards pricing - where other Budapest menus have cut corners to keep prices in check, here they have kept portions and quality the same, and dare you to find anywhere else doing the same thing for less (or at all). Just look at the little jar of herbs you get with your soup - you'll never see such green and vibrant leaves anywhere. No compromises, except for your wallet at the end.

This attitude translates into the rest of the experience too. The chef is here to play with food and has developed an environment that let's him do that. Actually running a business or even a kitchen efficiently is kind of secondary. No matter how full or empty it is, it always feels understaffed, the system on verge of collapse, chaotic energy emerging from the downstairs interior where kitchen and waiting staff yell at each other. The complexity of dishes - it's rare for anything to come on just one plate - combine with the cramped space and manic vision to make their job exceptionally hard. They try their best, but they're working for a mad scientist and there's only so much they can do to keep the dream on the rails.

Absolutely try it out, book ahead for an outside seat (though be sure to correlate the booking with the opening hours as it's quite possible to reserve a table for when the restaurant is closed, because gestures upwards). It's...

Vietnamigulyas.hu is a hidden gem that serves out-of-this-world Vietnamese cuisine, offering an experience far beyond the typical fare. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this restaurant is something special. The dishes are not just meals; they are culinary masterpieces, exquisitely prepared and beautifully presented. Each entree we ordered was truly mouthwatering, bursting with vibrant flavors that showcased the depth and complexity of Vietnamese cooking.

The pho (Vietnamese Goulash) a revelation, with a broth so rich and aromatic that every spoonful was a delight. The fried chicken is equally impressive, with a perfect balance of crispy breading, succulent meat, and flavorful sauce on the side. Every bite was a testament to the chef's skill and attention to detail.

Service at Vietnamigulyas.hu was impeccable—attentive and genuinely friendly. Our waitress (Berta) made us feel welcomed and well cared for, ensuring our dining experience was flawless from start to finish. They were knowledgeable about the menu and eager to provide recommendations, which added to the overall enjoyment of the meal.

The restaurant itself is cozy and inviting, with a casual atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. The sidewalk seating adds to its charm, offering a relaxed dining experience that feels both intimate and refreshing. Despite its unassuming exterior, Vietnamigulyas.hu stands out as a rare find, combining extraordinary food with exceptional service. It’s a place we’re eager to return to and highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and delicious...

The quality of the food is very good, but the flavour of the soup and meat don't match somehow.

We had 3 different soup and 2 main couses.

Vietnamigulyas tonkatsu was quite rough to chew, and was not able to consume, vietnamigulyas with meatball is fine, but was not amazing. It used to have this very unique umami flavor couple years ago, when I first visited.

Vietnamigulyas with lamb spring roll was exquisite, and got us the wow that we were looking for.

Dandan a little bit salty for me, and mono flavored.

red curry with pig feet was an interesting expirience, they were served on 4 different plates, and was not described how to eat, and we were confused. We started to pour the red curry on rice, ate the salad and crispy pig feet seperately adding to the rice. The feet was oily but with salad which was unique made the dish good.

Desserts were the stars of the show, especially the black sesame poppyseed nudli. It tastes like my whole whole childhood.

The overall experience was 3.5/5. Atmosphere and we were seated seperately, we had a space for ourselves.

Flavors of the Main dishes and Vietnamigulyas were 3/5 due to the complexity, textures, and things were mentioned before.

Desserts 5/5

Hospitality...